Folding crate.



F.' L. MARY.

FOLDING CRATE.

`APPLIGATIH FILED JAN.27, 1909. PatentedNov. Y

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Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

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FRANK LORENZ MARY, OF CHEI-IALIS, WASHINGTON.

FOLDING CRATE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Application led January 27, 1909. Serial No. 474,859.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, F RANK LORENZ MARY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cheha-lis, in the county of Lewis and State of'I/Vashington, have invented a new and Improved Folding Crate, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to crates, such as shown and described-in the lLetters Patent of the United States, No. 890,525, granted to me June 9, 1908.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved folding crate or like receptacle, having its parts arranged for convenient erection or folding into a flatA package and locking the folded parts in place. To attain this object, use is made of a bottom having end sills to which the ends are hinged, the front and rear sides being hinged to the bottom to allow of folding the said sides onto the top of the bottom between the sills, the ends havinga sliding` connection with a cover to fold the latter' flat onto the top of the ends and to lock the cover and sills together.

A practical embodiment of the inventionV 1s represent-ed 1n the accompanying draw lngsrforming a part ofthis specification, 1n-

luwhich similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of the improved crate; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2 2 of/Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. l -is a side elevation of the improvement showing the sides unlocked and folded; Fig. 5 is a similar` view of the same and. showing the sides unlocked and folded and the ends and the cover partly folded; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of' removably lockedv to the sides C by suitable' fastening devices G, suoli as'staples and' .loops D2 reaching beyond the upper edges of the ends E, and slidingly engaging longitudinal slats F of the cover F, so that when the ends E are swung inward and downward then the loops D2 cause the downward movement of the cover F, and when the ends E are swung upward an upward movement is given to the cover F, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 5 and 6.

The cover F is provided with a longitudinally-extending gate F2 extending `under cleats F3, to permit of removing the gate F2 for the insertion and removal of the poultry or the like. The gate F2 is adapted to engage staples I on the top of the sills A, and the staples I are arranged to engage notches F4 formed in one side edge of the gate F2, as plainly indicated in Fig. 7, it being understood that the gate F2 is pressed on the opposite side edges by a spring J so as to hold the notches F in engagement with the staples I.

Vhenthe crate is in erected position, as illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3, and it is desired to fold the same, then the operator unlocks the fastening devices G, to permit of swingingthe front and rear sides C downward and inward, to fold the said sides on the upper surface of the bottom A. The operator next removes the gate F2 and then swings thev ends E inward and downward (see Fig. 5), to carry the cover F along,l the ends E being finally folded upon theupper surfaces of the folded sides C, the cover F resting on top of the ends E, as plainly indicated in Fig. 6. IVhen the cover F moves into a lowermost position, as shown in Fig.

6, the staples I project into the path of the gate F2, which is now replaced by passing the same endwise into engagement with the staples I, and as the spring J presses the gate 'F2' laterally, it is evident that lthe notches F'L engage the sides of the staples I,

thus locking the gate F2 against accidental movement. Now as the gate F2 engages the staples I secured to the ends sills A', it .1s evident that the cover F is locked in place, and as the cover rests on the top of the folded ends E and the latter rest on top of the folded sides C, it is evident that all the parts are securely locked in place. From the foregoing it will be seen that folding of the several parts of the crate and locking the same in the folded position produces a package which can be conveniently carried about, transported or stored in a comparatively small space.

lhen it is desired to erect or unfold the crate, the operator first disengages the gate F2 from the staples I and removes it from the cover F, and then the operator swings the ends E upward, to raise the cover F,

after which the sides C are swung upward and locked by the fastening devices G to the cover F. The gate F2 can now be replaced after which the crate is filled, it being understood that the spring J holds the gate F2 against accidental movement, but

additional fastening means may be employed if desired. By bending the loops D2 outwardly, as shown in the drawings, an easy sliding connection is had with the slats F of the cover. "When the crate is erected the Yloops D2 extend adjacent to the inner side edges of the end cross bars, thus preventing lateral shifting of the cover F, and the ends E are prevented from accidentally collapsing by the loops D2 engaging the fixed slats F of the cover F held locked to the erected sides C by fastening devices G.

Although I have shown the crate parts in the form of slats, it' is evident that frames covered with wire mesh fabrics or other perforate material may be used instead of the slats, and although the crate is primarily intended for shipping poultry, it may be used forother purposes, that is, the receptacle may be constructed in box form for the use of bakers, laundries, etc. It will be noticed that all the parts or the crate except' the gate are non-separable, and conseo'uently the connected parts are not liable to become loose and are always in proper position when folding or erecting the crate.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A folding crate or like receptacle, comprising a bottom' having end sills, sides hinged to the sides of the said bottom to fold inward upon the bottom, ends hinged to the said sills and adapted to fold inward Vupon the said folded sides, loops on the said ends and projecting beyond the top edges thereof, and a cover slidingly engaged by the said loops to move the cover toward or from the said bottom on swinging the ends downward or upward.

2. A folding crate or like receptacle, comprising a bottom having end sills, sides hinged to the sides of the said bottom to fold inward upon the bottom, ends hinged to the said sills and adapted to fold inward v.upon the said folded sides, the hinge members on the said ends terminating` in' loops projecting beyond the'top edges of the said ends, the" loops being bent outward, and a cover slidingly engaged by the said loops, to move the cover toward or from the said bottom on swinging the ends downward orfupward.

3. A folding crate or like receptacle, comprising a bottom having end sills, sides hinged to the sides o'f the said bottom to fold inward upon the bottom, ends hinged to the said sills and adapted to fold inward upon the said folded sides, the hinge members on the said ends terminating in loops lprojecting beyond the top edges of the said ends, the loops being bent outward, a cover slidingly engaged by the said loops, to move the cover toward or from the said bottom on swinging the ends downward or upward, the said cover having a removable gate,rand

`staples on the said sills for receiving the said gate.

t. A folding crate or like receptacle, comprising a bottom having end sills, sides hinged to the sides of the said bottom to fold inward upon the bottom, ends hinged to the said sills and adapted to fold inward upon the said folded sides, the hinge members on the said ends terminating in loops projecting beyond the top edges of the said ends, the loops being bent outward, a cover slidingly engaged by the said loops to move vthe cover toward or from the said bottomon swinging the ends downward or upward, the said cover having a removable gate provided with notches, a spring pressing the gate laterally, and staples on the said sills for receiving the said gate and engaging the notches thereof.

5. A folding crate or likereceptacle, comprising a bottom, sides hinged to the sides of the said bottom to fold inward thereupon,

said bottom having end sills, ends hinged ,:sides, the ends having outwardly bent loops and the cover having longitudinal slats slidable through the loops, whereby to move the cover parallel toward or from the said bottom7 when the ends are folded, a gate for the 5 cover, and means in connection with the crate whereby the gate will lock the crate in open and closed position.

y In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK LORENZ MARY. Witnesses:

ERSKINE R. MERRELL, JOHN D. IsAAos, J r. 

